Hungary’s Position on the Russian-Ukrainian War

Abstract

It is noted that Hungary addresses its strategic objectives largely through close cooperation with the Russian Federation, namely: the import from Russia of energy resources and raw materials in the required volumes and at acceptable prices; the reliability of Russian markets for the sale of Hungarian products; and mutual support in matters concerning the protection of the rights of the numerous compatriots living in neighboring countries. In return, Russia receives from Hungary, as a member of the Euro-Atlantic community, public support within Euro-Atlantic institutions and a loyal attitude toward its domestic and foreign policy.

It is emphasized that after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, the intensity of relations between Hungary and the Russian Federation increased sharply. Hungary remained the only EU member state that, in practice, did not sever its ties with Russia. Therefore, such a favorable attitude of Hungary toward Russia’s interests on the international stage is highly valued in Moscow.

While the leaders of Europe have sided with Ukraine and condemned the war, Budapest maintains a policy of neutrality. Its actions lack a clear assessment of the war and its nature. Budapest avoids condemning the military actions of the Russian army in Ukraine, the occupation and annexation of parts of its territory, crimes against the civilian population, and the destruction of residential and industrial infrastructure. Attention is drawn to the fact that Hungary supports Russia’s conditions for ending hostilities, initiating peace talks, and achieving a complete and final end to the war. These conditions include the following: Ukraine must not join the EU or NATO and should remain in a neutral status, with no security guarantees offered to it.

The most dangerous aspect for Ukraine at present is that the state ideologies of Russia and Hungary are directed toward the partition and federalization of Ukraine’s territory. By establishing stable relations with the world’s major geopolitical players – Russia, the United States, Germany, and China – Budapest hopes, in the course of post-war settlement between Russia and Ukraine, to gain maximum benefit for Hungary and to significantly improve the situation of the divided Hungarian nation in Central and Eastern Europe.

The results of the study have drawn the following conclusions: it is possible to force the Russian Federation to a truce and to a permanent, just peace in Ukraine only through the unity, principledness and reliability of the EU and the US positions, and the initiatives of Hungary, as well as other individual states, to achieve this unilaterally are unsuccessful. Ukraine, the US, leading European countries and Russia should become participants in this process. Only a compromise acceptable to all parties should become a precursor to achieving a reliable peace.